About The Purcell School
The Purcell School is Britain's oldest specialist school for talented young musicians. The School holds the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal in recognition of its unique contribution to music, education and international culture. The School's Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, accepted the award at a special ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The School is funded largely by the Government's Music and Dance Scheme which, along with our own scholarship funds, ensures that all pupils join the School on the strength of their musical potential irrespective of their parents' ability to pay.
Our curriculum allows pupils to study a full range of subjects with a special emphasis on Music. At GCSE level, pupils will typically study 8 subjects. At AS, 3 or 4 subjects, and at A2, 2 or 3 subjects. Our proximity to London gives us access to the eminent international musicians who comprise our instrumental teaching faculty. Most of our pupils go on to music college and some take up places at Oxbridge or other universities. Our new Music Centre offers our pupils unrivalled facilities; state-of-the-art classrooms, a professional recording studio, superb practice rooms and a recital hall with exceptional acoustics.
We are proud of our consistent success in national and international competitions. We have an extensive programme of outreach and community work. Our orchestras, ensembles and instrumentalists give concerts throughout London, the UK and abroad.
Entry to the Purcell School is by audition. Qualifying pupils receive funding from the Government's Music and Dance Scheme whilst others are supported by generous trusts and benefactors.
If you have not visited us, please come to one of our daily recitals at home in Bushey or join us at one of our many London concerts and we hope you get a sense of the warm spirit of this unique School.
